Felons: The State of Tennessee maintains the most complex
disenfranchisement scheme in the nation, with disenfranchisement based
on the date of the conviction and the type of crime. Persons convicted
before January 15, 1973, for any felony that falls within eight
categories lose the right to vote but can apply to their local circuit
court or the court in which they were convicted to have their voting
rights restored after completing their sentence. Persons convicted of a
felony between January 15, 1973 and May 17, 1981 are eligible to vote
after completion of sentence. Any felony conviction after May 18, 1981
results in disenfranchisement, but the procedure changed from time to
time regarding regaining the right to vote. Any person convicted of a
felony between May 18, 1981 and June 30, 1986 can apply to their local
circuit court or the court in which they were convicted to have their
voting rights restored after completing their sentence. Persons
convicted of felonies other than first degree murder, aggravated rape,
treason, or voter fraud between July 1, 1986 and June 30, 1996 had
their right to vote restored automatically upon completion of sentence,
and can apply to the Board of Probation and Parole for a Certificate of
Restoration of Voting Rights. Persons convicted of one of the four
crimes mentioned are not eligible to regain the right to vote and must
gain a pardon from the Governor in order to do so. The law was amended
again in 1996, so that persons convicted of felonies (except for those
convicted of murder, rape, treason, or voter fraud) after June 30, 1996
must once again apply to their local circuit court or the court in
which they were convicted to have their voting rights restored.ID Laws: All voters need: For purposes of comparing the person's
signature on the application for ballot, "evidence of identification"
shall be a valid voter's registration certificate, Tennessee driver
license, social security card, credit card bearing the applicant's
signature or other document bearing the applicant's signature.